BILL NUMBER: SJR 18	CHAPTERED  08/24/99

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER   87
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   AUGUST 24, 1999
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 19, 1999
	ADOPTED IN SENATE   JULY 8, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   JUNE 24, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Kelley

                        JUNE 2, 1999

   Senate Joint Resolution No. 18--Relative to border medical and
burial costs.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SJR 18, Kelley.  Undocumented persons:  medical and burial costs.
   This measure would memorialize the President and Congress of the
United States to enact legislation to provide for reimbursement of
Imperial County for certain medical and burial costs incurred with
respect to undocumented persons and would memorialize the United
States Border Patrol to take certain actions with respect to those
persons.




   WHEREAS, Imperial County has declared a state of emergency
resulting from an adverse interpretation of federal policy at border
patrol crossings and providing medical care to undocumented persons;
and
   WHEREAS, The United States Border Patrol, when initial contact is
made with an undocumented person and an emergency situation exists,
uses the county's 911 emergency system; and
   WHEREAS, Under both state and federal law, emergency calls cannot
be denied; and
   WHEREAS, Emergency care should be the responsibility of the United
States Border Patrol; and
   WHEREAS, Using the county's 911 system shifts all financial burden
to the county and private providers of medical services; and
   WHEREAS, Costs for autopsies, hospital care, and emergency medical
transportation have exceeded $2,000,000; and
   WHEREAS, This practice of the United States Border Patrol of
failing to perform has resulted in putting emergency and medical care
in extreme peril; and
   WHEREAS, Imperial County and local medical care providers are
cognizant of their responsibility to provide medical care to those in
need and will not shun that responsibility; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate and Assembly of the State of California,
jointly, That the Legislature of the State of California respectfully
memorializes the President and the Congress of the United States to
enact legislation that would require the United States government to
reimburse Imperial County for all money expended in providing medical
care, autopsies, and burials of undocumented persons that should
have been provided by the United States Border Patrol; and be it
further
   Resolved, That the United States Border Patrol is respectfully
requested to maintain custody when initial contact is made with
undocumented persons, provide necessary medical care, and not avail
itself of the local 911 services unless the United States Border
Patrol has exhausted all federal emergency medical response services;
and be it further
   Resolved, That if any medical costs are incurred by Imperial
County for those types of costs with respect to undocumented persons,
that the United States government is respectfully requested to
reimburse Imperial County for those costs; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States,
to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to each Senator
and Representative from California in the Congress of the United
States.
